On Thursday, the Center said that approximately 57,000 cattle have already perished nationwide as a result of “lumpy skin disease” and urged the affected states to step up vaccination efforts to combat the illness.
What is LSD?
A infectious viral illness known as lumpy skin disease (LSD) affects cattle and can produce nodules on the skin, fever, and even death. The diesease spread through contaminated food and water, as well as by direct contact between the cattle, mosquitoes, flies, lice, and wasps.
As a result of breakouts in the Middle East and Europe, LSD has recently moved to Asia. In Bangladesh, the illness first surfaced in July 2019. The first LSD case was reported in India the same year, in eastern states, namely West Bengal and Odisha. However, in addition to Andaman & Nicobar this year, the sickness has also been recorded in western and northern states.
What are its symptoms?
The main signs include animal fever, discharge from the eyes, nose, and mouth, salivation, soft blisters that resemble nodules all over the body, decreased milk production, and difficulties feeding, which can occasionally result in the animal’s death.
What steps has the government taken so far?
In a significant development, two ICAR institutions have created a locally produced vaccine to treat cattle with Lumpy Skin Disease, which has recently spread to numerous states.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICARtwo )’s institutes created this vaccine, which the Center intends to commercialise as soon as possible to combat LSD.
(The above article is based on research done from web contents)
